Combination valve



April 3, 1962 L. E. LEE

COMBINATION VALVE Original Filed March 29, 1957 FlG.6

- INVENTOR LUTHER E. LEE

. IE5 W ATTORNEYS 3,027,907 COMBINATION VALVE Luther E. Lee, 6625Eastern Ave., Ta'koma Park, Md. Original appiication Mar. 29,1957, Ser.No. 649,580, now Patent No. 2,897,790, dated Aug. 4, 1959. Divided andthis application Mar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 892,266 3 Claims. (Cl.137--107) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 265) Thisinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The instant invention is a division of patent application Serial No.649,580, filed by Luther E. Lee on March 29, 1957, now Patent No.2,897,790 for Control System.

The present invention relates to a valve and more particularly to a newand improved combination check and exhaust valve suitable for use with afluid control system such, for example, as the system disclosed andclaimed in the afore-mentioned application Serial No. 649,580.

More specifically the invention contemplates the provision of a fluidcontrolled valve having new and improved means for bypassing fluid underpressure flowing in one direction and for exhausting the pressure whenthe fluid under pressure flows in a reverse direction. Moreover, theinvention provides a spring biased valve body normally maintained in aclosed position and sealed to the walls of the valve casing by aflexible disc formed integrally with the body, the disc beingconstructed and arranged to be distorted and unsealed from the walls ofthe casing in response to a predetermined pressure applied thereto inone direction and for effectively engaging and sealing the walls of thecasing in response to pressure applied thereto in a reverse direction,whereupon the pressure is quickly exhausted to atmosphere.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedfluid actuated valve.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novelvalve capable of instantaneous response to fluid under pressure flowingeither in one direction or a reverse direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel valve foradmitting fluid pressure into various fluid actuated devices and forrapidly exhausting the residual pressure therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a normallysealed valve element unsealed and sealed in response to fluid pressureapplied to opposite surfaces of a flexible element forming a part of thevalve element.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially insection of an automatic step advancing toolholder illustrating the valveof the present invention in fluid communication therewith;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2,with the valve in a normally sealed closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the valve in an unsealed openposition;

States atent C F 3,927,997 Fatented Apr. 3, 1962 ice FIG. 5 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, of themovable valve member.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the presentinvention generally indicated by the numeral 10 is illustrated inconnection with a pressure operated automatic step advancing toolholder11 such, for example as disclosed in my copending parent applicationSerial No. 649,580. The toolholder 11 which is supported on aconventional lathe carriage 12, includes a piston chamber 13, a piston14 disposed within chamber 13 and a toolholding ram 15 movable into theworkpiece as fluid pressure enters chamber 13 and displaces piston 14.The valve 10 is also in fluid communication with a pressure operatedthread counter valve 16 such as disclosed in the afore-mentionedapplication Serial No. 649,580.

The valve 10 of the present invention as shown in more detail in FIGS. 3through 5 is constructed and arranged to supply fluid pressure totoolholder 11 and thread counter valve 16 and to quickly exhaustresidual fluid pressure therefrom when their operating cycle iscompleted.

The valve 10 comprises a casing 17 having a nipple 18 threaded in oneend and a nipple 19 threaded in the other end thereof. The casing 17 isprovided with chamber 21 adjacent the nipple 19, the chamber 21terminating in a chamber or bore 22 of reduced diameter with respect tothe diameter of chamber 21. The casing 17 is further provided with achamber 23 adjacent nipple 18, chamber 23 being in communication withchamber 21 such, for example, as by a plurality of bores or ports 24,the casing being provided also with a plurality of vent or exhaust ports25 in communication with chamber 22 and with the atmosphere, as bestshown on FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

A combination check and exhaust valve member generally indicated by thereference character 26 and composed of any pliable material suitable forthe purpose such, for example, as Teflon, the valve being movablyarranged in chamber 21, and comprising a cylindrical body 27 havingconical portions 28 and 29 at the terminal ends thereof. The body 27 hasformed thereon an annular skirt 31, the skirt being provided withrelatively thin annular peripheral portion 32 forming a part of arelatively thick convex portion 33 integrally formed with the body 27.The body 27 is further provided with a guide flange 37 disposedsubstantially midway between the skirt 31 and the conical end 28 of thebody 27, for guiding the valve within chamber 21 during movementthereof.

When the valve 26 is in an initial position as shown in FIG. 3, theconical portion 29 is maintained in sealed engagement with a seat 34formed in nipple 19 by a spring 35 having one end in engagement withconical portion 28 and the other end in engagement with the bottom wallof chamber or recess 22. Furthermore, in the aforesaid position of thevalve the thin peripheral portion 32 of the skirt 31 is in sealingengagement with the cylindrical wall forming chamber 21.

When fluid pressure enters chamber 21 in one direction as indicated bythe arrows, FIG. 4, from a suitable source such, for example, as an aircompressor by way of conduit B the valve 26 moves to a position as shownin FIG. 4, the conical portion 28 of the valve is in sealing engagementwith chamber 22 sealing off exhaust port 25, conical portion 29 beingunsealed from seat 34 and the thin peripheral portion 32 of skirt 31being flexed or distorted in response to the pressure impingingthereagainst an amount sufiicie-nt to unseal the skirt from thecylindrical wall forming chamber 21. Thus, the pressure in chamber 21 isported into chamber 23 by way of ports 24 in casing 17 and into chamber13 of toolholder 11 by way of conduit K to actuate piston 14, thepressure also being ported into thread counter valve 16 by way ofconduit C, pressure responsive valve 36 and conduit D.

When residual pressure from chamber 13 and counter valve 16 enterschamber 23 in a reverse direction, as indicated by the arrows, FIG. 3,by way of the aforesaid conduits and pressure responsive valve thecombined spring force and fluid pressure moves and maintains the conicalmember 29 of body 27 in sealing engagement with seat 34, the aforesaidpressure also maintaining the peripheral portion 32 of the skirt 31 insealing engagement with the wall forming chamber 21 and the conicalmember 28 of body 27 unsealed from chamber 22. Thus, since the conicalmember 29 and portion 32 provide a double seal which seals ofl conduitB, the residual pressure is quickly exhausted by way of chamber 22 andvent or exhaust ports 25.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a new and improvedcombination check and exhaust valve has been devised wherein a thinskirt on valve mmeber is suificiently pliable to be actuated in responseto fluid under pressure flowing in one direction and which willeffectively seal the cylindrical walls of the valve casing in responseto fluid flowing under pressure in a reverse direction thereby to causethe pressure to be quickly exhausted to atmosphere pressure. Moreover,if desired, the valve of the present invention may be utilized as a oneway check valve by plugging the vents 25 in any conventional manner. Insuch an arrangement the conical portion 29 and skirt portion 32 on valvebody 27 would allow passage of fluid under pressure in one direction andprevent passage of the pressurized fluid in a reverse direction byreason of the double and positive sealing connection provided by member29 and seat 34, peripheral portion 32 and the wall forming thecylindrical chamber 21.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for passing and exhausting fluid pressure comprisinga casing having a pair of chambers therein, a unitary valve membercomposed of pliable material and movably disposed in one of saidchambers and having a cylindrical body portion, a first conical seatformed in said casing, a first conical element at one end of said bodyportion and normally in sealing engagement with said first conical seatand movable out of engage ment with the seat in response to fluidpressure entering the casing at the end thereof and in one direction, aspring disposed within the casing in engagement with said body portionand the casing for normally maintaining the first conical element insealing engagement with the first conical seat, an annular flexibleskirt having a thin peripheral edge thereon of a greater diameter thansaid body portion and normally in sealing engagement with said casing,said skirt forming a part of a thick convex portion integrally formedwith said body portion thereby to increase the strength of the skirt atthe flexing point thereof, port means in said casing in communicationwith said pair of chambers for passing said pressure therethrough assaid first conical element is moved out of sealing engagement with thefirst conical seat and the thin peripheral edge is flexed out of sealingengagement with the casing by said fluid pressure entering the casing atsaid one end thereof, a second conical seat formed in said casing, asecond conical element at the other end of said body portion normallymaintained out of sealing engagement with said second conicfl seat bysaid spring, said second conical element being movable into sealingengagement with said second conical seat as the first conical element ismoved out of sealing engagement with said first conical seat and thethin peripheral edge is flexed out of sealing engagement with the casingby said fluid pressure entering the casing at said one end thereof, saidsecond conical element being movable out of engagement with said secondconical seat in response to return pressure entering the casing at theother end thereof and in reverse direction, said return pressure forcingsaid first conical element in sealing engagement with said first conicalseat and the thin peripheral edge in sealing engagement with the casing,and an exhaust port in said casing and disposed between said one end ofthe casing and the other end thereof in communication with said chambersand the atmosphere for exhausting the return pressure from the casingwhen the second conical element is unsealed from the second conicalseat, the first conical element is in sealing engagement with the firstconical seat, and the thin peripheral skirt is in sealing engagementwith the casing.

2. A valve for passing and exhausting pressurized fluid and comprising acasing having a first conical seat and a second conical seat disposedtherein, a unitary valve member composed of pliable material disposedwithin said casing and having a cylindrical body, a working chamber atone end of the casing, a first conical element at one terminal end ofthe body and normally in sealing engagement with said first conicalseat, a second conical element at the other terminal end of the body andnormally out of engagement with said second conical seat, a spring inengagement with said second conical element and the casing formaintaining the first conical element inengagement with said firstconical seat, an annular flexible skirt formed with the body anddisposed between and in spaced relation with respect to the conicalelements, a thin peripheral portion on the skirt of a larger diameterthan the diameter of the body and normally in sealing engagement withthe wall forming said working chamber, said skirt having a thick convexportion integral with the body and extending inwardly into the body asubstantial distance for increasing the strength of the skirt at theflexing point thereof, a fluid receiving chamber at the other end of thecasing, a plurality of ports disposed in teriorly of the casing incommunication with said working chamber and the receiving chamber forpassing pressurized fluid through the casing when said second conicalelement is in engagement with said second conical seat, the firstconical element is out of engagement with the first conical seat andsaid peripheral portion on the skirt is out of engagement with said Wallforming the working chamber, and additional ports in the casing incommunication with the working chamber, the atmosphere, the plurality ofports and the receiving chamber for exhausting pressurized fluid intothe atmosphere when said second conical element is out of engagementwith the second conical seat, the first conical element is in engagementwith the first conical seat and the peripheral portion on the skirt isin engagement with said Wall forming the working chamber.

3. A valve assembly comprising a casing, a unitary pressure responsiveelement composed of pliable material disposed within said casing, saidvalve element including a cylindrical body portion having a conicalpressure sealing member at each end thereof movable by fluid pressureinto and out of sealing engagement with said casing for controlling thepassage of said fluid pressure therethrough in at least two directions,a flexible circular skirt disposed between the conical sealing membersand of larger diameter than said cylindrical body portion, said skirthaving a thin peripheral sealing edge normally in sealing engagementwith the casing and movable into and out of sealing engagement therewithby said fluid pressure according to the position of the conical sealingmembers and the direction of flow of the fluid pressure, said sealingedge forming a part of a thickened convex portion integrally formed withthe cylindrical body portion thereby to strengthen the skirt at theflexing point thereof, and spring means disposed Within the casing inengagement with one of the conical members for normally maintaining theother conical member in sealing engagement with the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GruberJune 20-, Lewis Aug. 26, Cumming July 3, Grove Sept. 7, Mead Sept. 11,Wilson Sept. 25,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 25,

